Disclaimer- I do not own these fine men. They own each other.
Thanks*To Zophiel Lagace, Delos13, ClassyBlue, Vanma, Imperial Dragon, Another Slave Hums, GIF, Troilus, Midnight Custard, Yumemakura, Phaisty, Vohangilalao and Konstantinne, and all my readers. Your reviews have inspired me greatly.
Far, far away and Long, long ago~ Chapter 10
The recess bell had sounded. Teens from all over came rushing into the school, as classes were about to begin.
He hated it. It was his eleventh week at the school and he already dreaded everything about it, the students, the teachers, the principal and the smell of the cafeteria. He already attracted the bullies, shoving him in lockers, replacing his lunch with insects and calling him names. It was no different than middle school.
Bossier High school was in the Parish School district closer to his home than other schools in the area. It had a high rating chart and the best reputation for continuing graduates, highly recommended, one of the reasons why his father had suggested it in the first place. It was no surprise to the boy, pretending he actually gave a shit but he was sure his mother would have thought up the same school, so this wasn't just another one of his father's convenient bad decisions.
"Honey, you're going to have to get out one way or another. I can't be late for my interview." Constance said putting on her makeup looking at herself in the rearview mirror of the car.
"I know." He replied silently. His mother smiled at her upset son.
"Look." She pointed. "Shannon is out the car and ready to learn like you should be."
"I'm not him." Jared said as he looked over at his mother. Constance was a beautiful lady, her face was rounder, she always had soft cheeks, and her eyes were bright hazel almond shaped and her hair was a complete poof. She looked like a woman who should be asked to perform in a Hollywood stage as she had perfectly shaped hips and nice long legs. She once dreamed about being an actress but her talent was with the arts and painting and she kindly turned her other dream down. "Why are you putting on so much makeup?"
"I told you I have an interview darling." She finished with her red lipstick.
"Interview huh?" his voice ran with suspicion.
"Yes an interview, now get out the car."
Jared turned back to his older brother running through the doors and into the school with his cool group of friends. He envied Shannon but chose to do nothing about it.
"Shannon has friends." He didn't mean to say it out loud. He was mainly talking to himself as his blue eyes pierced through the car window.
He was sure his mother could read his mind as she brought up that he should go try to make friends with Shannon's friends. That was her solution and Jared could laugh the first laugh that week. Shannon was just a year older than he but it didn't change the fact that he was cooler and, well Jared was the weirdo, the outcast.
"I would embarrass him something I would never dream of doing to hurt his credibility as a teenager. He would feel like a loser if he were to bring me around."
The confession upset his mother. "Jared, don't talk like that!" She slapped the boy lightly on the leg, her way of getting angry.
"Would you like me to speak through music instead, seeing as whenever I speak my mind it's not welcomed. Music has a way of soothing ones spirit, making everyone unite in fidelity." His eyes turned lighter, as he considered becoming a musician.
Her boy was smart, so smart and so talented but he had become quiet lately and more distance around her and everyone, and she was starting to think she knew why.
"Are you depressed?"
He closed his eyes in annoyance like he was trying to calm a massive headache. He took a hold of his grungy back pack and left the car not waving or saying bye back to her, instead dreamed that there would be an end someday. He wasn't depressed, he was just different.
His mother watched as he entered the school and sped off once making sure he wouldn't turn around and head in another direction. She hoped she didn't say anything wrong. It would be on her mind all day.
Jared went to his locker. He was already late so there really was no point in scuffling up all his things and rushing into the classroom. He had learned from his fathers lack of education, that school wasn't important. That you just weren't suppose to care in high school. It was an opportunity to ditch classes, have sex in the boiler room, smoke weed behind the school, deal drugs in the bathroom and steal peoples lunches because they couldn't afford to buy there own.
If that's not a good definition of high school, then nothing is he thought?
He slammed his locker door.
"I see your almost an half hour late Mr. Leto?" The teacher stared and peeked over his glasses at the boy who had situated himself at his desk.
He shrugged and told the teacher he didn't care and that important things came up. Everyone knew he was lying. He even knew they knew he was lying but they had no proof that something important hadn't happened, so it was time to move on.
Some of the teens around started to giggle in their seats. "Detention for him!" one blurted out and threw a crumpled paper at Jared who still didn't care.
After getting a good observation of his classmates, Jared thought him self a decent kid compared to the rest. He never fought back with anyone and left the situation at that. These kids were asking for trouble.
"That would be detention for you if I see you throw another paper. This isn't preschool." The teacher scolded.
The teacher wearing a grey and old looking overcoat decided to continue on, noticing both boys weren't planning on arguing back. It was too early for insubordination from anybody.
"We have a sentence and we want to learn the structure of this sentence." The teacher got straight to the point.
The dry erase marker squeaked annoyingly across the big whiteboard as he wrote a small sentence.
On the board he wrote 'Mary likes oranges.'
Jared leaned his head down on his desk yawning. He hadn't had much sleep the night before to busy, writing lyrics for his imaginary band he had created in his head.
"Who care what Mary likes." He said. "Who cares about oranges? I sure as hell don't."
"Jared!" the teacher said loud and clear. "What do you think of this sentence?"
Jared looked at the board again frowning. "Uh, I think Mary is an interesting name."
The class laughed and Jared looked around not understanding why. He was completely serious. He should have been home schooled, that way he could understand himself.
The teacher shut them up and folded his arms interested with what the boy was going to say next. "Oh yea and what do you think of Mary?" peeking over his glasses again.
"I think she was a different girl. She had a thing for astronauts. She was the type of girl who always liked to play a lot. She was a holy girl because her father wet her appetite. Mary was the type of girl who always liked to fuck a lot." The blue eyed boy smirked and leaned his head back down on his desk. He would call that song Buddha For Mary.
The teacher shook his head smiling while some of the class members were calling the boy a freak.
"Class is this a sentence?" he pointed with his finger running it under the words.
"We aren't babies Mr. Aristotle." One of the class members whined. "It's a sentence." The class member began to pop his gum he was chewing forcefully.
"It's obvious isn't it? That's why this class have failed in there previous essays given? Because you aren't babies? Am I right?" Mr. Aristotle sat at the edge of the desk waiting for the rude boy to respond.
The boy just slouched in his chair folding his arms.
Once noticing the boy wasn't going to answer he continued to humiliate him. "You don't know the meaning of ideas and you don't know the matters of fact. You are here to learn John and get a good grade in my class or I could care less that you end up on the street because I'm still getting my paycheck. Where's yours?"
The class laughed at John and the teacher hushed them again. The boy rolled his eyes.
"What is Mary other than her being an astronaut?"
John looked over at Jared who was now asleep at his desk and turned back to the teacher.
'Mary is the noun." A member responded.
"Good. What is the verb?" Mr. Aristotle put a pen in his mouth chewing on it waiting for someone to shout out the answer.
The same student responded and John raised his hand high. "Teacher, Jared is sleeping." He said obnoxiously still popping his gum.
"Yes, yes and you are a snitch Mr. Vander."
The class had ended and John met Jared at his locker. Jared opened it and John shut it closed causing the boy to glare at him with revulsion.
"Hello Jared." John had a conceited smile on his face.
"Hi John. Move John." John didn't move his hand from the locker.
"I heard something. Some rumors." He continued.
"I don't care." Jared pushed his hand away and quickly opened the locker giving him no time to close it back.
John leaned in close to his ear. "That you have a little crush on me." He backed away thinking the boy was going to snap out at him."Not like I mind or anything." He said it with another one of his posed smiles.
Jared tried to look unbothered. "Well I don't. Don't get your hopes up." He reached for his lunch in the locker trying not to look the bully in the eyes afraid of showing an ounce of his denial. John still didn't leave.
"Jared, come on." He moved closer making Jared uncomfortable. "If it makes you feel any better I have a crush on you too. That probably explains why I mess with you a lot." He confessed.
Jared didn't know how to respond. Was John actually trying to be nicer to him? He looked around scanning the area to see who might be listening, like his stupid asshole friends. He didn't see them. He tried to show no signs of weakness, in which he had many. He did have a crush on John and how he found that out he had no idea. He didn't think he showed any signs sharing any impression that he liked him.
"So…? What do you say?" John tried stressing the question sounding a little desperate. He spit his gum out at some poor geek walking by and looked back at Jared smiling innocently.
Jared felt the rage in his body grow to the point of him yelling out all his feelings towards the boy in the hallway not caring who were there to be the witnesses.
He started from the first day of school till the moment now. If his friends put him up to this he would kill them all.
"You have been an asshole to me for a whole fucking month! What in your stupid little mind think that I'm just going to believe you?"
John looked shocked. Never had he seen Jared act this way. In fact he didn't know the boy could get angry and it was kind of scary. His blue eyes were darker now.
"Jared I know and I am sorry." His voice was a little less full of it and more sweet.
Jared calmed after everyone looked at him awkwardly and went back to retrieving there lunches in the cafeteria. "If you want I will apologize to you in front of the whole school including my friends." It sounded promising.
"That's a big sacrifice." Jared's voice was unforgiving.
"Look I admit I was an asshole, but I took advantage of that just to get closer to you. And well look, we're bonding." John smiled and he didn't seem so heartless anymore.
"Are you flirting with me?" Jared asked with a croaked voice from the yelling that took place not too long ago.
"Yes I am. I just wish you would flirt back so I'm not standing here feeling like an outsider."
"Whatever John. I like you okay. Is that better?"
"That a boy." John returned his charming smile.
"Anyway I got to go." Jared felt shy suddenly and took off in the opposite direction.
Shannon and Jared came rushing into the house, up the stairs and into there rooms. The father was sitting at the table smoking a cigar and reading a newspaper. Constance was cooking dinner, wondering where her 'hi mother!' was from her boys.
"Boys did you have a good day at school?" she shouted over the frying vegetables on the stove. Her ears awaited an answer but got none.
"That must mean yes." The man at the table said, not caring blowing smoke from is mouth.
Constance rolled her eyes and made her way towards the bottom stairs and shouted up. "Boys!"
She thought she would never hear any of there doors open but Shannon, her eldest son came out his room and ran down the stairs giving her an injustice kiss on the cheek. He then flew by his father hitting the newspaper in his hand.
The dad gave the boy a dark look with his deep brown eyes. "Are you asking for a beating boy?" his voice serious as he chewed the end of the cigar.
"No but I'm asking for a father who might give a shit about his kids."
The dad stood and threw the newspaper down on the table and removed the wiggling cigar between his tongue glaring angrily at the boy.
Shannon mocked him in posture standing up to him. "I'm not afraid of you." His voice collected.
The mother separated them placing both hands on there chest. "Shannon this is no time right now. A mother and wife shouldn't have to keep her family from killing each other!" She tried to stay calm hoping the two men would settle down.
The dad sat back down mumbling hurtful words about her and Shannon under his breath. "You boys are disrespectful." He said ashamed. "You need to be sent off to some boarding school."
Both Constance and Shannon ignored him and they hovered over the good smelling food cooking in the pots and pans.
Jared was standing there the whole time watching no one recognizing him. "Hey mom can I go to a friends house and watch scary movies."
She turned shocked to see her boy there. "Uhh, yea sure. It's Halloween eve, you might aswell." She cleared her throat trying to shake away all embarrassment, that her son experienced another one of his fathers' drunken behavior. There family was falling apart.
"Who is this friend?" she felt the need to ask.
"John."
"Really." She looked liked she couldn't believe him. She made no mistake who this John kid was. "Isn't he the one you come complaining to me about non stop?"
"Yea, but he said sorry. Is it okay if I go?" He had forgotten she might have a problem with it. He should have thrown out a pretend name, because honestly John was the only name in that whole school he knew. Shows how much he's been paying attention.
"May I ask why? Sudden change of heart?" she leaned her arm on the counter the other on her hip, looking at her teenaged son.
"He apologized." Jared looked down at the ugly tile floors in there kitchen.
"I don't trust him." Shannon said, drinking from his coffee cup at the counter.
"Listen to your brother Jared; I do not trust him either." The mom said agreeably.
"I knew you would say that but you are also the one who told me to go out and make friends. Right now he's my only friend." He looked up. "I hope you understand."
"Take Shannon with you?"
He shook his head not wanting to offend his brother. "No offence but Shannon wasn't invited."
"I hardly now this kid." She went back to stirring the vegetables.
"How was your interview?" the boy changed the subject, voice showing no mercy and the mom stopped what she was doing and looked at him, nervously.
"It was good. I'm actually starting today. They liked me."
"That's good. Can I go." His tongue holding back her truth. "I mean that would be rude for Shannon to show up uninvited am I right."
Constance couldn't believe how serious her son was at the moment.
"Just let him go Constance." The father said slamming down his paper after finding nothing of interest. "Stop controlling his life."
"Exactly my point when I say you don't give a shit about anything." Shannon boomed with disbelief trying to keep himself from throwing the coffee cup at the mans face.
The father did nothing but his tight grip showed otherwise.
The mom considered her sons persistence for awhile and she finally accepted.
"Now how are you getting there and back?" The father talked to him like he was an idiot.
"He's going to pick me up and drop me off."
"Good by the time your movie is done I will be sleeping and your mother won't be home till late."
"Yes sir."
Jared thanked his mom giving her a hug. "I promise I won't tell" he whispered and ran backup the stairs to get dressed. He looked in the mirror for awhile and then changed his clothes with unbelievable pace.
Constance was finally done cooking and left to go get ready to leave. "The dinners on the table!" she said. Before she left she kissed both her sons and husband goodbye. Jared was watching out the window as his mom drove off and just seconds later John pulled up in front of the house in a red corvette.
"Have fun with your spoiled bitch of a friend," Shannon said before taking off back up the stairs slamming his door angry about something.
Jared exited the door and slowly entered the front seat of the car.
"Hey" John said.
"Hi." Jared replied tensely.
"You look good."
Jared was wearing just a plain t-shirt, a leather jacket, the only good looking boots he had and light jeans.
"Thanks." He replied trying not to sound so shy.
John smiled and drove off. The silence on the way was excruciating.
"What movies are we going to watch?" the blue eyed boy asked, as that was the only thing he could think of to say, that didn't sound too corny.
"I don't know. Johns hands were tight on the steering wheel. "I mean if you don't want to watch a movie, we could do other things." He passed him a wink.
Jared looked away towards the window. "Anything's fine I guess."
"Have you ever been with a man before?" John sensed his edgeness.
Jared shook his head, the only way he could respond. He was lying and didn't want John to know.
"Well I will be your first."
They eventually pulled up in the driveway. Johns house was eneromous. He was one of the rich kids, very proper, very arrogant and no doubt pampered.
They walked into the big house full of people. None of them greeted Jared and remained where they were, looking at him weird and snickering to each other. He was told to make himself comfortable and John headed into the kitchen.
"You drink Jared?" he asked looking into the fridge.
"Sometimes."
He handed Jared a can of beer. "You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I'm sure." He said as he took the can. He was feeling like an outcast. Something told him he didn't deserve to be at this party. He just wasn't cool enough.
The day moved on into night and they chatted for awhile after the first couple of movies. It seemed more like a social night than a scary movie night. Couples were making out on the couch, smoking weed outback and having sex upstairs in empty rooms.
Eyes were prying on them and Jared noticed some girls turned away quickly laughing and giggling. This made Jared more annoyed than nervous.
"Do they know?' Jared asked in an intolerant whisper.
"About what?" John said taking another gulp from the can.
"About you and I. Do your friends know?"
John stared into the blue eyes. "Yes but it's alright. They don't mind." He sounded sure. "Besides I wouldn't want to keep such a beautiful thing a secret. That would be rude." He removed a loose lock from Jared's face.
John then stood from the couch helping him up. "Hey we're going to be back." His friends just nodded and the two left up the stairs and into John's room. Jared sat on the bed looking at everything the boy owned and at all his belongings. John smiled and grabbed Jareds arm turning him so that they faced each other. He then guided Jared onto the bed.
"Don't look so down."
"I'm not down."
"Good."
John moved his mouth towards Jared's and began deluging the sweet small lips. He pulled the neck of his t-shirt down and made his way kissing his supple chest.
"Did you lock the doors?" Jared stirred a bit not wanting some random people walking in on them.
"It's locked babe." John began kissing wet trails all over the boys stomach and belly button, his mind wondering into oblivion. He stopped and took Jared's jacket off throwing it on a chair. John started kissing at his mouth again and Jared returned it this time. He moaned feeling the slick muscle of his tongue enter. They backed away breaking for air.
"I want you in me." Jared whispered feeling desperate for someone to love him. John smirked against his ear, biting a sensitive spot, making Jared arch his back.
"And I will but you need to be patient babe." Jared nodded. "How about you get me started." John unzipped his pants. The boy knew what he wanted. John hummed into his ear and Jared began to stroke John's hard cock. John hesitated no more and moved Jared's pants down his lean hips and moved in between him causing Jared to spread his legs wide. Every inch of the boys' skin beneath him stirred his excitement and he thrusted into him, no protection, no preparation, no nothing and Jared winced in pain biting John's neck and grabbing at his strong shoulders, nails digging through his shirt and into skin.
"Sorry" John said. "A person like you is only made for one thing and one thing only."
Jared unattached his teeth from his neck and frowned not knowing what that meant. "What?"
"I've been dreaming about doing this for days."
Jared didn't know how to respond. Was he supposed to take that as a compliment? John thrust into him more and Jared shouted out in suffering. He shivered.
"Spread your legs more for me, like you do for random strangers."
Jared's eyes opened wide in fear. He pushed John off of him. The boy just giving him an evil smirk got up. He pulled up his pants and went to get something from his desk. He threw a bunch of papers at him.
Jared's mind went blank. If he could die this would be the perfect moment.
"Where did you get this?" he replied hoarsely. Hands beginning to shake, muscles beginning to tense.
"Your locker. You're pretty naïve you know that. And easy. I have no feelings for you at all. All this was a bet."
Tears piled in his eyes as he looked over his private notes that were taken from his journal and now sitting in his lap. No one was to blame but him for not listening to his mother, for not listening to his brother and taking his fathers advice.
He now knew what the girls downstairs were laughing at. Why people were talking about when sneaking outside. He gathered the pieces of his journal quickly stacking them. He slid off the bed and hurried downstairs.
He saw everyone laughing and pointing at him. This was his biggest mistake of his life. He felt like he was in a strange land. He stormed out the house crying. He was humiliated all his innocence torn from him, by someone who still hated him. By someone who told him that he liked him.
His mind to focused on that horrible moment, eyes blurred, from tears and rain, that he didn't realize that he had been walking to someplace he didn't know of. He looked around and ran to the nearest gas station and asked to use the phone. The man at the counter must have felt bad for him and he pointed outside at the phonebooth and handed him coins. The boy thanked him.
He didn't want to call him but he had no choice.
He dialed his home phone. It rang and rang. At one point he was grateful. He didn't want to hear the sound of his angry voice.
"Hello." The dad had been sleeping. His voice raspy.
"Hi dad."responded a shaking voice.
"What boy? Why you callin this late?'
"I need to be picked up?"
"I thought you said you had a ride." He yelled. Jared closed his eyes tight until he was done screaming at him. He was for certain going to get a beating when he got home.
"I know, something came up and he wasn't able to take me home. I'm sorry to wake you. It will never happen again."
"That's not good enough.. What happened to the allowance your mother gave you. Take the bus." Jared closed his eyes tighter remembering his father took it from him to go buy some more alcohol.
"I don't…" the boy stopped dead in his words. His eyes widened and mouth parted slightly.
"Jared…Jare?" the voice shouted on the other end.
Jared gripped the phone securely holding it to his heaving chest as if it would defend him from something. He saw the man in black outside standing on the sidewalk staring at him through the Phonebooth.
"Are you still there boy?" the boy was too shocked to respond but whispered "Do you really want me dead or alive to live a lie?" the boy didn't know who he was talking to.
"What are you talking about boy? Get your ass home!" Jared was shaking intensively not knowing what to do.
The man shaped his fingers into a phone and signaled the boy to hang it up.
"Okay dad I found the change, I'm going to take the bus. See you when I get home." He hung up the phone quick. The glass of the booth turned foggy due to the rain. Jared placed his hands on the cold glass wiping away the fog hoping that the man would just disappear and that it was just another nightmare. The man was still there. He stayed in the booth. The man then signaled him to come out approaching silently. Jared backed into it as far as he could go and shut his eyes.
He would open it up and the man would disappear. He waited and kept his eyes closed. Repeating over and over that it was just a dream. The man knocked on the booth loudly. The boy shot his eyes open and the man was exactly what he remembered five years ago. Dark eyes and only dark eyes.
The man once seeing he had the boys attention stepped away from the booth waiting for the boy to exit. He signaled once more for the boy to come out. Jared closed his eyes again praying to whatever god he believed in. He stepped out of the booth slowly. He turned to see the store man talking with a customer laughing about something paying him no attention. This was his worst day.
The man walked up to the boy and leaned on one knee. Jared didn't dare look into his eyes still frightened out if his mind. He thought the man had left him alone. He thought he would never see him again. The man extended his arm holding out his hand. Jared looked at the wet black glove hesitantly and took his hand feeling ashamed. He didn't know what else to do.
"I missed you Jared."
"You can't be real?"
"Do I feel real?"
He nodded.
The man brought him behind the nearest building where no one was at. He was violent as he gripped Jared by the wrist and brought him to his knees. The man took off the scarf around his face and smiled down at the boy. This was the first time seeing his whole face and he was indescribable.
The man unzipped his leather pants and said nothing as the boy already knew what he wanted, learning from that one time experience. He placed both hands on the mans thighs to keep him balanced on the hard wet ground. A squeaking sound was heard. They looked over at a homeless guy pushing a cart full of random stuff. The homeless guy stared for awhile just watching the boy who was on his knees and what he was about to do. Jared didn't know what could be worse right now. Being humiliated, about to suck some guys cock or someone watching. He didn't know what he was feeling anymore. Something told him he would never recover from this and another thing told him to fuck the world and that his life was already screwed up now. He might as well live it because nothing could get worse. The boy turned to continue doing what he was doing making the evil man smile in bliss as rain hit his face. The man licked his lips and flipped the homeless guy off. He then put his fingers into the shape of a gun pretending to shoot it off laughing evilly.
Once the homeless man took off with his cart, the man grabbed Jared roughly by the hair pulling him away.
"I have a present for you." He sounded threatening. He took something from inside his long trench and handed Jared his jacket he had left at John's house. The rain rushed blood from it making way into the grounds.
"If you let anyone take advantage of you without pay or reward, I will kill them. Now let me take you home."
The startled musician shot up jumping away from the man who had awakened him from the nightmare and memory. The curled haired man apologized retracting his hand away and once Ptolemy reassured him who he was and that it was alright he took a seat next to the man hesitantly trying not to make any sudden movements. Ptolemy would just wait until the man steadied his breathing and he did, after a while. Ptolemy looked at him worriedly. The man was sweating up a storm and he looked ill, face pale.
"Are you well? The general asked. He had never seen anyone so restless in there sleep accept Alexander, and he found it interesting to see that the king and sometimes his lover weren't the only ones who suffered from erratic nightmares.
Jared just nodded his head. He looked away from Ptolemy feeling embarrassed to be caught in such a state. He hoped he wasn't talking in his sleep or screaming or anything that would have revealed his personal shitty life.
They sat in silence for awhile. Ptolemy began tapping his fingers on the table like he wanted the man to speak up. Jared frowned at him and Ptolemy stopped the annoying inconvenience. Jared tried to hold in a smile.
"You really need to stop sneaking up on people." Jared spoke in a small voice trying to sound intimidating but failing miserably.
Ptolemy gave him a nod. "What are you doing out here by yourself? It's not safe especially in the night."
"I was hungry." The exhausted looking singer breathed deeply and reached for his cup of water next to his food plate and downed it in almost two gulps.
"You seem distraught about something." Ptolemy asked running his hands over the smooth marble table and not looking the man in the eye.
"You can read me that well eh?"
Ptolemy had it in his nature to make people nervous. People liked to be locked in what they called 'a private world,' then along comes Ptolemy who was somehow blessed with a key to the doors. Jared was still trying to figure out if it was a good or bad thing.
The general just shrugged continuing what he was doing.
"I can't read anybody. It's how people read themselves that make it noticeable."
"Oh yea? Impress me."
Jared and Ptolemy turned to face each other this time looking each other directly in the eye.
"Before you came here, you were doing something you knew you would regret."
It was an answer and it was the right answer. Jared tried not to look impressed by the mans estimate, even though he was.
Can people see right through him now?
"You're smart." Jared turned away from him still sending off the vibe that he didn't care.
The girl moaned beneath him as he plunged inside her. Her legs spread and her hands wrapped tight around his biceps as she became more and more wanting to his every move. He hadn't had sex for awhile or even touched a woman especially after touring the world like crazy or better yet like a mad man, exhausting him self and the members of the band. He was referred to as a modern day Hitler, just not as bad.
The thought of being that busy made him feel sick to his stomach. It was in the past, with his first two albums, where he would enjoy life and sex, now with the newest of his children, as he called his albums; it was safe to call him a virgin. How pathetic he felt. He looked back at how he got in this situation.
He took a walk and passed by the harem and found a woman. She just happened to be half naked sitting by the sacred fountain running her hand smoothly through the water. He introduced himself not even thinking if it was against some kind of Persian rule that the women were not aloud to be touched or forced into sexual acts with the men, and then before he knew it she offered herself up to him.
And, so there they were in private quarters drowning in lust, but he was running into problems. He found himself bored which was a shock within itself; because he was one to enjoy sex but now he couldn't even seem to react the right way or the way he normally would. The girl was enjoying it at least he thought and she was proving herself to be a great distraction, keeping certain things and a certain someone off his mind.
She moaned again in ecstasy enjoying it again more than the man above her. Jared stared hard at her not blinking as she had her eyes shut closed in bliss. All he could think of is how she didn't feel any different than the modern day women he had pleasure in banging. She didn't even look different and as a rule Jared strived for change, for something… else.
She was on a rollercoaster and he was wondering why the rollercoaster had stopped upside down. I need something more. I need to feel pleasure the man whispered to himself only to sneer seconds later. He reached his hand removing it from her tiny bare breasts and slowly worked his way towards her neck. The moment he gripped her fragile throat he shoved inside of her harder seeking her pleasure glands not considering how she felt only caring about his own needs.
She hadn't complained yet about the tight grip around her neck, still trapped between pleasure, confusion and anxiety, pleasure owning all. He showed no mercy in fucking and choking her until she began to cough trying to pry his hand away from her neck. He immediately snatched his hand away from her forcing fingers. He was breathing just as heavily as she was, his eyes wide and regretful. Even though this wasn't the first time he had choked his female mates during sex.
The rumors back at home were true. He would flirt with women ,especially girls who pretended they were fans of his band, bring them to a cheap hotel, choke them during sex, then the next day would come and he would ignore there phone calls and pretend nothing happened. It didn't sound bad, but it was. He had more problems than he had realized and cursed himself for just now coming to terms with his conscious. Actually he noticed a long time ago when he met that man.
He was thinking so hard he had forgotten about the girl. She was so scared she couldn't even move only her chest exhaling and inhaling fast and deeply.
"Why did you let me do that?" He asked choking on his words.
It was like she was waiting for him to make the first move as she blinked and answered him. "You are a man of authority and I just a simple woman." She spoke in clumsy Greek. "I had no right to question." Her tone was something of shame which made the man feel even more like an asshole.
"I'm sorry. Go back to where you were." Why she didn't slap him, was just beyond him. God knows he needed it.
She hurried off the bed and scattered up her clothing leaving the room without turning back.
The man sighed. Now he was really hungry.
"Why did you?"
"I don't know. I guess something just triggered off in my mind and I felt the need to do something." He closed his eyes in distress not understanding why he was discussing something so personal with someone he hardly knew. But he felt he could talk to him. Not about everything though, not just yet. He couldn't tell the general, that he liked his friend Colin Farrell. Very much. Also he couldn't really tell him the reason he went seeking sex in the first place was to get back at his friend. How stupid he was. Colin felt nothing for him, so why would he care?
"Revenge on who?" the curlied haired man asked.
"It's not so much revenge. It's just me fighting with myself."
Before he had even found the girl he had been lying in the room with Colin both bored out of there minds. Not necessarily bored as much as one could read from there body language, but the right word would be 'distracted'. So many things flying around in there heads. The more they thought about home, family, and so on, the more they were finding it pointless to think about.
Jared didn't know what Colin was thinking but he was sure glad he had convinced them to stay. Jared was very appreciative for just having this experience alone happen to him. Shannon was right, the more he thought about his brothers words, telling him to get a life, the more he accepted that this life they were in right now was real. It was a sign.
The hours were late and a good amount of the palace was sleeping accept them. They were still trying to adjust to telling the time by looking at the sky. They both took good guesses. Jared, thinking it 10:47 on the dot, and Colin guessing midnight. Of course know one was around to tell them which one was closest.
The Irish man was sprawled on the couch flipping through a book he wasn't even reading while Jared distracted himself by staring up at the decorative painting on the ceiling in the room. It looked like a bunch of nothingness, more abstract blending fairly with fine art. They don't know how long they had been seating in silence or how many times they heard the sheet of the book flip. Too much silence in so much time just seemed not likely and it pissed Jared off for some unknown reason. Apparently he wasn't as distracted as the Irish man.
"Do you want to play a game?" Jared looked at the Irish man hoping he would jump off the couch and shout 'yes!' like they would in a highschool musical movie right before they broke out in song.
"Not really." Colin shifted where he lay flipping through the book again, eyes not even on the pages.
"You aren't bored?"
"Not really."
Jared gave out a slight laugh in protest. They had spent the last, what it seemed like, three hours in complete silence and before that being drilled all day and Colin gave him the answer 'not really.' Really?
"Would you like to go with me to the dining hall to get something to eat?" He felt it odd to ask it that way, like he was asking the man on a date, but hoped it would work.
Colin closed the book and looked towards the man who seemed to be asking questions in replace of his boredom. "Can you not go by yourself?" his tone read of annoyance.
"I can. I was just asking!" Jared replied suddenly. He wasn't intentionally trying to be annoying. He just wanted to do something that didn't mean sitting in the room being bored shitless.
"Well I don't want to." Colin tossed the book on the floor and situated himself on the couch lying his head down on the pillow. Jared watched him close his eyes.
"I'm gonna go find some chicks to bang. You still don't wanna come with?"
Colin rolled his eyes. "I'm tired Jared, I'm going to bed."
So the man obviously wanted to be alone. Any Colin Farrell refusing or denying any kind of girl, needed to be taken to a hospital immediately. So unlike him. Or he was locked in a world where one or two word answers were a highly recommended factor. The singer stood from the couch and walked towards the door. The Irish man could tell by his heavy footsteps that he was angry with him.
"Thanks a lot dick." Jared mumbled. He slammed the door.
Colin turned his way towards the door sighing in regret. He wasn't tired at all. He just wanted to be left alone with his thoughts, and poor Jared had no idea the thoughts were about him.
Jared gave Ptolemy a pitiful smile, surprising him self that he could still manage to pull one. "I'm always dramatic, it's not his fault. He was tired and I wasn't."
Ptolemy knew there was much more to the situation than just that. "Are you and Colin lovers?" Something just sparked in his head making him call out the question. The singer didn't look surprised though but his voice said otherwise.
"No not at all, just good friends. Why did he say something?" His eyes were now wide like a child who had just found his long lost toy.
Ptolemy shook his head. "The soldiers were just curious that's all. It's just tiny rumors making its way through the palace. You know how that is."
"Oh, sorry to disappoint." The light that was there for a couple of seconds just dimmed away from his eyes. Jared scooted his plate and cup further towards the middle of the table, Ptolemy not even bothering to ask why.
He would ask him something else. "Is it also a common thing for two of the same sex to lie together where you are from?"
"Actually it's beginning to become more and more popular. It used to not be accepted."
"Ahh... I see."
There was uncomfortable silence.
"Well I better go get some rest before I pass out tomorrow on the training grounds." Jared said trying to lighten the depressing mood he had inflicted upon himself.
"Oh yes you have Hephaistion first thing tomorrow." Ptolemy reminded the man knowing he didn't need any reminder of the angry general, which was becoming his nickname as time went by.
Jared stood. "Just perfect." He looked at his plate and cup analyzing whether to clear it or not. It wasn't like home where you would clean your own dishes and dry your own dishes. Here was different and he was caught in the moment and Ptolemy laughed.
"You're not used to this are you?" the jolly general asked.
"I'm still learning. It's your job to teach me." Jared laughed shyly.
"Yes it is, so for the time being just leave it. I'll l get it for you."
"Thank you."
Ptolemy turned serious suddenly reaching for Jared's arm. "Hephaistion is a good man Jared and I am sorry he is giving you trouble. I hope your differences will be solved more sooner than later."
Jared just smiled. "He has been wonderful Ptolemy. I don't think I could love him more." His words couldn't have been any more honest and this had the general smile agreeably. Jared leaned to give the general a hug. Then Ptolemy watched the unsolved beautiful man leave from the dining hall.
"You possess Hephaistions beauty and own Alexander's qualities. The both of them are your pursuit of happiness."
"Yesterday we seemed to have a little difficulty getting past trainee level." Hephaistion didn't sound too happy. In fact he sounded angry.
Tiny rain drops fell slowly from the contrast pink blue sky. The sun was peeking over the hills, the soft light shining beautifully on the generals tanned skin.
"Remove your cloaks. We will train in proper attire."
They didn't want to but they had to. Retaliation wouldn't be to wise at the moment seeing as they disappointed Hephaistion the day before. They removed there cloaks and there they stood with no shirts and no pants, just a simple loincloth and leather boots fit for the weather. The worst thing was that everyone could gather around when they pleased.
Hephaistion arched an eyebrow as did Ptolemy who sat there with his chart ready to jot down the second day of the training.
Jared and Colin moved nervously where they were at. Hephaistion staring like he had never seen such a thing and Ptolemy looking closely intent. They couldn't understand why they were staring at them like they were crazy men. Colin looked down at his tummy and considered that his pudgy smokers belly was the cause. He thought it was cute. Jared looked down and considered it was because of his girly thighs. He hated his thighs. They both looked at each other and back at the men daring to ask what they were staring at.
This was just perfect. It was raining, it was there first day of training, and it was also the first day where the general showed signs of any curiosity in them at all still not knowing if it was a good thing or bad.
Hephaistion stepped closer to them and next thing; he was circling them eyeing them from top to bottom.
"These marks, what do they symbolize?" They released the tension in their bodies once figuring out that the generals were intrigued by there tattoos, studying them and admiring them. Hephaistion was careful not to touch incase they were cursed. But he seemed to be more interested in the Irish mans tattoos as he had way more than the American.
"They are nothing of importance." Colin replied not so sure why he said that. It was half true and half not and Hephaistion was now finding the reason as he touched the sensitive wet skin of his arm and began tracing the design of the large tattoo on the whole side of his right upper arm. The Irish man twitched uncomfortably. Hephaistion looked at him with a 'how dare you' look but then continued. It wasn't the general that was intimidating that made him feel uneasy but what the general found. Hephaistion took his hand away immediately and looked at Colin with forsaken eyes.
"What happened?"
"Nothing" the man reacted quickly, lying behind his tongue. Now he hoped for his shirt back. Jared peeked over seeing what the general was so interested in and underneath the dark tattoos they could see thick bumpy keloid scarring. It was obviously meant to be hidden.
Hephaistion sensed he was uncomfortable and decided that 'nothing' was an okay enough answer. For now.
Jared looked concerned and Colin excused it.
"What you showed me yesterday proved your worth as a stay home wife, whose only duty in life is to cook, clean and give birth. You proved to no one that you are warriors, soldiers or men for that matter. You are weak and incapable. I spoke with Alexander yesterday and we feel this is not your fault. You weren't trained as young boys like we were. You didn't know discipline at young age. You will start from rookie level.
"Everyday we will meet here and the first thing we will do is our stretching exercises. Again let's see what you got."
They both began to stretch again, the way Hephaistion wanted to see it done. He watched them carefully and any thing he saw wrong he would scold them and help them fix the situation.
Jared was and always had been more physical than Colin and didn't need as much help from the general as did the Irish man. Also Jared ate more healthy foods than Colin. Colin was like that person who would just eat, smoke, have sex and watch TV all day. Jared was the type of person to be active in everything whether it was jumping on stage, climbing scaffolds, going to the gym, or going for bike rides.
Colin stood from doing a stretch that he forgot the name too and was close to giving up. He shook his arms hating the tingling feeling he was getting, feeling like his muscles were closing in on him.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Hephaistion. He didn't sound upset though. Instead he sounded a little nice.
"I'm taking a break that's what I'm doin."
Hephaistion looked at Ptolemy. "Write down, 'man with funny accent is disobedient."
Ptolemy laughed. "You are horrible Hephaistion!"
Colin shook his head. "My arms are hurting, okay."
Hephaistion decided to take it easy on them now. They have been doing the exercises for at least twenty-five minutes pulling it through all the way. He decided it was time for another lecture making them listen and take notes. They took a seat next to Ptolemy, the man handing them paper and a pen.
"What I am going to be teaching you for the next three months is what we call strength training."
Ptolemy watched his friend closely as he taught the two trainees. He wasn't too cruel with them and he wasn't too nice earning the respect from the two. He knew they feared he would be too rough on them but that wasn't the case.
Colin and Jared listened closely as the general explained the benefits of the type of training, the health preventions, how certain muscles react to certain exercises, and how they react due to force.
They wondered how they knew all this in their time. They made modern warfare seem like nothing.
It wasn't too often that Hephaistion had the chance to be in charge of something and Ptolemy thought it his true talent. He saw the king making way towards them.
Alexander decided to break away from his duties.
"How are things going over here Ptolemy? Are they meeting there quota?" The king took a seat next to the general. It brought him back memories of when he was in school and he was being taught by Aristotle.
"Hephaistion is giving them a little break from the physical exercises and is going over with them a lecture. They are clumsy but they will turn out great I believe."
"That's what I like to hear." The king smiled content and proud. He wanted his friend to have the best bodyguards one could dream for.
Ptolemy thought this the right opportunity and only chance he got to discuss with the king what was on his mind.
"Alexander I wanted to talk to you about something." The king turned away from the two men and his friend and put all attention on Ptolemy.
"Is this the same something that you wanted to talk to me about when you strolled through my door finding me between Hephaistions legs?"
"Yes that would be it." He gave a self satisfied smile.
"What is it my dear fiend? I pray it's nothing of bad matters."
"No not at all, it's just something that involves a different job opportunity."
Alexander straightened looking a little disturbed. "What about it?" He hoped the man wouldn't say what he thought he would say.
"I was thinking perhaps being a soldier my whole life is not something I prefer. Maybe the thought of retiring and doing something else."
Damn, Alexander thought. He hated being right. "Like what?"
"Maybe becoming a philosopher or teacher."
"I see." The king looked unmoved by the proposal.
"Do you not approve?" Ptolemy asked hoping Alexander didn't think it a stupid and unworthy idea. Alexander spoke up.
"Your mind is strong Ptolemy and I have no doubt you will be able to surpass in all branches but I also think you a fine soldier, general and friend. I need you by my side. Only a few I trust and it would be ashamed for one of them to leave my side." Alexander liked the idea of Ptolemy as a teacher but he felt this wasn't the right time to discuss such matters especially during a hunt for Darius. He was planning on having the general with him through all is missions.
"I understand."
"You have learned well through Aristotle." Alexander turned his attention back to the training ground still wondering if Ptolemy was always thinking about leaving his side as a general or if he just recently came up with the idea.
"His studies have been well intrigued." The curlied haired man answered, voice a little gloomy.
Alexander sighed in defeat. He would never forgive himself, if his friend lived life then died without doing what he wanted to do, not what he had to do. There have been times when Alexander wished he wasn't a king and could just take Hephaistion away and go live a normal life.
"How about I give you time to think about it?" he came to a solution. "But truly your wisdom is needed here at my side."
"Thank you my king." His mood getting a little less cheerless.
"If you were to get known though how you would do that?" Alexander was curious.
"I don't know maybe write a book. This is something I haven't taken well time to think about just yet."
"Great things will come your way."
"Hopefully, I pray."
Alexander didn't know what that meant which made him frown. Was he bored with him? Did he not like him as king anymore? What was he doing wrong? His mind was distracted as he heard someone shout his name. Just by seeing Hephaistions face, annoyance gradually making its way upon it, he knew it either had to be Craterus or Arsias.
"Your highness!" Arsias walked up to him.
"Yes Arsias?" Arsias stared at Ptolemy for awhile hoping he would get up and leave. When he noticed the man wasn't doing so he asked to speak with Alexander privately.
They took a walk.
"I have heard rumor of your mother. Are you really bringing her here?"
"Yes, is that shocking to you?"
"Well if word is passing from ear to ear than yes it must be."
"I sent the letter. It's official."
"Is that wise, my king?"
"Why? You're making it sound like I am unleashing some beast from its cage. Do you fear something?" Arsias always thought how Alexander could always keep a smile on his face even when in complete disagreement.
"With all due respect, isn't she the one who murdered your father?"
"We still don't know that."
"She's had you convinced that Darius was the one."
"She's convinced me of nothing. My father is gone so let's move on to what's alive shall we?" he stopped walking and looked at the soldier with an approving smile. Arsias' nerves jumped.
Alexander never seemed to care about his father at all.
"Alexander I only worry for your best interest. How will you two fair. She probably still has that great amount of control. Do you not worry this will mask your chance as king?"
"She will behave herself." He sounded confident which worried the soldier even more.
"You can't guarantee that. She despises most of us here. We all have seen it, the way she looks at us, driving daggers through the hearts of men."
"You have nothing to worry about." Again his smile and his confidence were terrifying.
"How about we consult this with the generals, Alexander. This is more for you than us. Let's speak with Parmenion."
"Arsias I will say this once." Alexander's smile gradually faded and he was now serious. Arsias had to give it to him. He has put up with there protests a lot lately.
"As far as my mother goes, should be of no concern to you or to others for that matter. You were ruled by my father yes, so I understand you are at odds with her. She is controlling, she is possessive, she is beautiful and smart, everything a man fears in a women but you forget she is just a simple mother looking out for my best interest or whatever she thinks that is. It's what mothers do. She will come and she will watch me rule. I will give you advice now. If you fear her then she will be the death of you. Don't feed into that. Now I plan on enjoying the rest of my day while I still can."
Alexander smiled again.
"Yes my king."
Drypetis had awakened early and got dressed quick in a dress that looked like a princess shouldn't have been wearing. Parnicus would fire whoever put that as apart of her wardrobe.
Rumors had been going about the palace about the new training lessons the king was setting up. She moved towards her balcony appreciating the good view of where Colin and Jared were being trained.
"Isn't he just the most marvelous man you have ever seen, Parnicus?" she asked dreamily.
Parnicus blinking rate went up as he felt he was experiencing déjà vu. Did not the princess say this the last day and the day before that? Not only did she watch the so called Colin everyday when she found the chance too but she had talked of him everyday when she had the chance too.
He sighed something her father would do in the situation. He would let it go, after all she was just a young girl and young girls had at times moments of obsession and dreams of fantasies that they would soon get over.
…
Well never mind he thought. He wasn't quite sure she would get over it. After going on and on about Colin she had become oblivious to her sisters callings. The princess swooned.
"Princess your sister has summoned you for the fourth time this hour." He decided to be direct with her hoping at least she might care.
"Did she say whether they were important or not?" she asked with a hint of aggravation, still not looking back away from the arena.
"She did not say anything but we should assume any call from one of royally is believed to be important."
"I suppose." She finally turned to him. "I hope she doesn't go on about how she doesn't trust the new king or to somehow beware of the horns growing out of the side of his golden head. I've heard enough of father's stupid tales."
Parnicus bowed slightly in shame. It was understandable how the princess was feeling about her father. She obviously hated him at the moment and Parnicus knew it. He should have known, once he lost his men's trust he would soon lose his families trust.
"She only cares for your well being. We do not know this king or his true colors. Its only natural too act the way she is now."
"His colors shine brightly just like any king should."
Her mood changed to that of a simple common girl to that of a princess as she spoke of hate towards her father. "He shames us all."
"And colors could fade princess." Parnicus harked back politely. She arched her eyebrow.
"All in good time Parnicus. I only believe what I see."
He opened the door bowing slightly with his hand out motioning for her and she stepped put from her room.
"By the way, have you spoken with the King yet Parnicus, about that rude general of his?"
"No I have not but I will certainly see to it."